Blind Bartimaeus: the beggar who would not be silenced in Mark 10

The crowd wanted him to be quiet. Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting by the road outside Jericho, had heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, and he began to shout: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many people rebuked him and told him to stop. He shouted all the more.

Jericho and a named beggar

Jesus was travelling to Jerusalem for the last time, passing through Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd. It was one of the last miracles recorded before his entry into Jerusalem. Mark gives the beggar’s name, Bartimaeus, meaning “son of Timaeus”. It is unusual for the Gospels to name people healed by Jesus, which suggests he may have been known in the early church.

Son of David and the crowd

Bartimaeus called Jesus “Son of David”, a title for the Messiah. Though blind, he saw who Jesus was more clearly than many who could see.

The crowd tried to silence him. Beggars were often ignored or pushed aside. But Bartimaeus would not be silenced. Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” The crowd’s tone changed: “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”

The cloak, the healing and following

Bartimaeus threw his cloak aside, jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. For a beggar, the cloak might have been his most valuable possession. He left it behind. Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” The answer seems obvious, but Jesus invited him to say it. Bartimaeus replied, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

Jesus said, “Go, your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Bartimaeus did not go home. He followed Jesus, the path that led to Jerusalem and the cross.

Mercy and a model of prayer

The story encourages persistence in prayer, even when others try to silence us. It shows Jesus stopping for someone society ignored. Bartimaeus asked for mercy before he asked for sight. His cry is one of the oldest Christian prayers. Once Jesus called him, the same crowd that silenced him encouraged him. Many churches use Bartimaeus’ story to teach about honest, persistent prayer that names what we need.

If Jesus asked you, “What do you want me to do for you?”, what would you say? Tell him today.